Growth and Development of Soybean as Influenced by Intercropping with Pigeonpea and Phosphorus Level

Abstract

A field study of growth and development of soybean as influenced by intercropping with pigeonpea and phosphorus fertilization revealed that grain yield of soybean due to association of pigeonpea was reduced by 54.96% in additive and 45.10% in replacement system of intercropping. A remarkable reduction was noted in harvest index of soybean, which was 23.75% in replacement and 19.60% in additive system in comparison to 29.24% in sole cropping. Soybean growth was poor due to association of pigeonpea in additive series. Application of phosphorus showed a positive effect on height of soybean, dry weight, root nodules, number of nodes per plant and other yield-attributing characters up to the highest tested dose of 90 kg P₂O₅/ha. However, grain yield was maximum with the application of 60 kg P₂O₅/ha @ 4.67 q/ha, an increase of 54.11% over control. Optimum level of phosphorus was 61.65 kg P₂O₅/ha for pure soybean, 36.47 kg P₂O₅/ha for intercropped soybean in additive series and 65.53 kg P₂O₅/ha in replacement series of intercropping on per row basis.